Retainer for lightning rods or ground wires



H. A. TAYLOR. RETANER FOR LIGHTNING RODS 0R GR DUND WIRES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l5, I921.

Patented May 16, 1922.

HERBERT A. TAYLOR, OF SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA.

RETAINER FOR LIGHTNING RODS OR GROUND WIRES.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1922.

Application filed June 15, 1921. Serial No. 477,756.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HERBERT A. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Shefiield, in the county of Colbert and State ofAlabama, has invented new and useful Improvements in Retainers forLightning Rods or Ground ires, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient and atthe same time inexpensive'meansfor substantially and permanentlysecuring a lightning rod or ground wire or connection such as are usedin connection with telegraph, telephone and like poles to prevent theloosening and displacement thereof due under ordinary conditions to thedrying and shrinking of the wood and hence the loosening of the staplesordinarily employed to hold said rods or wires, it being obvious thatthe said loosening or falling of the rods or wires involves a certainelement of risk to persons approaching the poles and at the same timerenders the rods or wires insufiicient for the purpose for which theyare intended; and with this object in view the invention consists in aconstruction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a plan view of aretainer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a View of the strap forming an element of the retainer.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views in perspective respectively of thestaple and keeper forming parts of the device.

Figure 5 is a detail View of the joint of which the keeper forms anelement.

The device consists essentially of a strap 10 of iron or like materialcarrying a prong element 11 such as a staple which may be secured to thestrap at any convenient point b means of a rivet 12 or the equivalentthereo, the strap being provided near one end with a transverse slot oropening 13 through which the other end of the strap may be threaded anddoubled back to form a loop 1d with the slotted extremity of the strapinterposed between the sides thereof. Said looped end of the strap andthe interposed slotted end thereof are embraced by a keeper 15consisting of a rolled or folded section of strap iron preferablyperforated as indicated at 16, the perforations being formed by aninwardly directed punch to produce inwardly ing the same the staple maybe driven into the pole in straddling relation with the lightnlng rod orgrounding wire for which purpose the projecting head of the rivet 12 maybe used as an impact surface, after which the extremities of the" bandmay be interlocked by passing the imperfect end thereof through thetransverse slot or opening 13 and drawing the band tight, the extremitybeing folded back to form the loop, after which the keeper 15 may beapplied and pinched into place to bind the ends of the strap againstaccidental displacement.

Qbviously a device of this character will maintain a lightning rod orgrounding wire indefinitely in its proper position on the pole becauseeven the loosening of the staple by reason of the shrinkage of the woodof the pole will not tend to release the rod or wire.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is 1.A retainer for the purpose described having a strap of which oneextremity is perforated for the reception of the other end thereof, thesecond-named end being folded to form a loop, and a folded keeperengaged with the folded end and interposed extremities of the strap.

2. A retainer for the purpose described having a strap of which oneextremity is perforated for the reception of the other end thereof, thesecond-named end beingfolded to form a loop, and a folded keeper engagedwith the folded end and interposed extremities of the strap, said keeperhaving inwardly directed spurs or points for frictional engagement withthe adjacent surface of the strap.

4-. A retainer for the purpose indicated consisting of a staple carryingstrap adapted for terminal interlocking engagement, the staple being ofpronged construction and being secured in place by a rivet having anexposed head forming an impact surface.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

HERBERT A. TAYLOR.

